Portable breakaway bolt saving bolt stop

ABSTRACT

A portable flexible collapsible non-penetrable breakaway blunt bolt stop target in combination with a quick release fastener is provided. The target is provided along with a quick release fastener that can be attached to a stand and when impacted by a bolt shot from a crossbow the target is released from the stand and falls to the ground along with the bolt thus preventing damage to the bolt and to the crossbow. The target is foldable and capable of being rolled up to be carried in a pocked or easily carried on or stored in a crossbow.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application to and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/558,453 entitled “BOLT OR ARROW CATCHING TARGET” filed Sep. 14, 2017 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHINCAL FIELD

A portable collapsible non-penetrable target capable of breaking away from a fixed position upon impact from a blunt tip bolt fired from a crossbow is provided thus saving the bolt.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The classic crossbow is cocked by hand and de-cocked by shooting a bolt from the crossbow since triggering a cocked crossbow without loading a bolt is likely to damage the crossbow. This is referred to in the art as dry firing. Shooting a bolt into the ground or into a tree to de-cock a crossbow is likely to damage the bolt. Shooting a bolt into the air to de-cock a crossbow is dangerous and is likely to result in a lost bolt. Furthermore, many states such as Michigan make it illegal to possess a cocked crossbow in the woods, field, parking lot and the like before or after hunting hours. Therefore, it is important to have a means for de-cocking such crossbows without harming the crossbow and a hunting bolt. The disclosure relates to a flexible collapsible blunt tip bolt stop non-penetrable target made of a flexible ballistic material used to shoot a blunt tip bolt into said target without harming the bolt nor require dry firing and may be easily carried for use by the shooter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A method of and a reusable portable bolt stop target article for reducing damage to crossbows by dry firing and reducing damage to blunt tip bolts when fired from a crossbow to prevent dry firing is provided.

A flexible collapsible breakaway, from a fixed position, bolt stop target which is non-penetrable by a blunt tip bolt fired from a crossbow is taught. A quick release fastener is provided to attach and hang the bolt stop target to a support such as a stand so when the target is impacted by a blunt tipped bolt shot from a crossbow the target is released from the support such as a stand and falls to the ground along with the bolt. The quick release fastener can be attached to the target, to the stand or provided as a separate item. The target is made from a flexible high tensile strength ballistic material which prevents penetration on the impact of a blunt tipped bolt or arrow shot from a crossbow with high kinetic energy. The target is flexible, collapsible and prevents penetration by blunt tipped bolt shot from a crossbow when the target is in a fixed, but easily released position. The target when in a fixed but easily released position is configured to adsorb and dissipate all or a significant amount of the kinetic energy of the bolt. In one embodiment, the target is composed of at least one layer of flexible and collapsible ballistic material, such a ballistic fabric or multiple layers of a ballistic fabric, whereby when impacted by a blunt tip bolt fired from a crossbow adsorbs and dissipates the kinetic energy of the flying bolt. As an embodiment the target and quick release fastener is provided in combination with a pair of rods which provide a stand to which the bolt stop target is attached and hung using the quick release fastener. The target is reusable and is easily transported into the field for example by releaseably affixing it to a crossbow such as by wrapping the target around the barrel or tail stock. It can also be folded or rolled up and stored in a pocket or in a compartment that is provided in the tail stock. It can also be folded or rolled up and carried in a jacket pocket or the like.

A method of de-cocking a crossbow is provided which comprises loading a cocked crossbow with a blunt tipped bolt, providing a collapsible breakaway bolt stop target as described above releaseably attached to a stand, and firing the bolt into said target whereby the target absorbs the kinetic energy of said bolt, preferably without penetrating the target, whereby the target is released from the stand and falls to the ground with said bolt thereby preventing damage to the bolt and to the crossbow. Bolts are an expensive item running as much as ten dollars or more per bolt. Different brands of crossbows require different types of bolts, bolt sizes and bolt nocks. The present invention is adaptable to these differences.

The bolt stop target can also be used for target practice, citing in bow scopes and the like. The target can easily be transported such as by rolling it up and placing it in a coat pocket or as shown in FIG. 1 wrapping it around the stock of a crossbow and securing it for example with elastic or hook and loop bands.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the invention showing a typical crossbow with a bolt stop target wrapped around the stock of the crossbow as a means of transporting the target to the field.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective of an embodiment of a blunt tip bolt 80 comprising a blunt tip 85 on the end of shaft 81 opposite to the end containing fletches 82, 83, and 84 and nock 86.

FIGS. 3, 3A and 3B illustrate an embodiment of the bolt stop target in combination with a stand 11 (comprising 2 rods 12) and spring clips 14 as quick release fasteners as separate items, i.e. they are not permanently attached to the target or to a stand. FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate specific embodiments of spring clips 14.

FIGS. 4 and 4A illustrate an embodiment of an archer shooting a blunt point bolt into a bolt stop target of the invention releaseably hung and attached to a stand wherein the target is released in a collapsed form from the stand and falls to the ground along with the bolt without damaging the bolt. FIG. 4A illustrates a closer time lapse view.

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of a bolt stop target 10 defining two holes or slits 22 located in the upper two corners as quick release fastener.

FIGS. 6 and 6A illustrate an embodiment of the bolt stop target 10 with a flexible strap-clip combination quick release fastener 20 which can be wrapped around a stand to releaseably attach and hang the target from the stand.

FIG. 7 illustrates another embodiment of a bolt stop target with magnets 26 embedded in the top two corners of the upper part of a target which form a quick release fastener for releaseably attaching and hanging the target to metal rods which form a stand.

FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of the bolt stop target wherein the quick release fastener comprises two loops 23 attached to the top outer edges of the target 10 in combination with a stand 11 comprising two rods 12 hinged at the top 13 and having pegs 16 to hang the bolt stop target and releaseably support the loops.

FIG. 9 illustrates a telescoping rod 100 which has a magnet 101 secured to one end and a sharp point 102 located at the opposite end. A pocket clip 103 is also provided for ease of carrying. A pair of such rods can be used to provide a stand for example as shown in FIG. 12.

FIG. 10 illustrates an embodiment of the invention that includes a bolt stop target 10 having as a quick release fastener two cords 200 secured to the top of the target and spaced apart with clips 201 secured to the opposite ends of the cords. FIG. 10 also shows the target having two fabric strips 202 secured to the face of the target which can releaseably hold for example two telescoping rods 100 for carrying them to the field where they can be detached from the target and set up to provide a stand.

FIG. 11 shows the target of FIG. 10 rolled up and secured in this position with the cords 200 wrapped around the target and the clips 201 secured to the wrapped around cords to maintain the rolled up position of the target.

FIG. 12 illustrates the use of two telescoping rods 100 of FIG. 9 as a stand to releaseably hang the target of FIG. 10 with the clips 201 releaseably attached to the magnets 101 which clips are in this embodiment made from steel or like material which attach to a magnet. In other embodiments the jaws of the clips can be used to attach the cords to a stand.

In the Figures like parts are not always numbered. Also, in all Figures showing a bolt stop target, the target is referred to with number 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF TILE INVENTION

FIGS. 3, 3A, 3B, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 10 show embodiments of bolt stop target 10/quick release fastener combinations of the invention. FIGS. 3, 8 and 12 show three embodiments of stands 11 comprising rods 12 and telescoping rod 100 that can support the target 10 in combination with embodiments of bolt stop targets and different quick release fasteners. These stands 11 comprise two rods 12 or telescoping rods that can be pushed into the ground to form a stand to releaseably hang a bolt stop target 10 using a quick release fastener. The stand of FIG. 8 employs a hinge 13 attached to the rods 12 at the top ends to secure the rods at one end to allow folding of the rods making them easy to transport. The rods may have a peg 16 extending from the side of the rod such as shown in FIGS. 8 and 4A to hang a target 10 that may contain, for example, holes 22 (FIG. 5) or loops 23 (FIG. 8). In FIGS. 9 and 12 the rods are telescoping rods 100 that that can be shortened to make them easier to transport and then extended to set up and make a stand.

FIGS. 4 and 4A illustrate in time delayed manner how the target is released from the stand 11 and used to stop, catch, collapse around and carry a blunt tip bolt 80, shot from a crossbow to the ground.

FIGS. 3, 3A, 3B, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 10 also illustrate several embodiments of quick release fasteners, 14, 20, 22, 17, 24 26, 16, and 200/201 that can be employed with suitable supports such as stands 11 to hold the bolt stop target 10 and quickly release the target from the stand when hit by a blunt tip bolt shot from a crossbow. When impacted by blunt tipped bolt the target 10 absorbs and dissipates the kinetic energy of the blunt tip bolt preventing damage to the bolt so it can be reused.

FIG. 5 illustrates holes 22 placed through the upper portion of the bolt stop target material as a quick release fastener. The target 10 can be placed onto pegs 16, (FIGS. 4A and FIG. 8), extending from the top portion of the rods 12 of the stand 11. The target's holes 22 are placed on the pegs 16 facing on the opposite side from the direction of the flight of the bolt 80. The target easily slips from the pegs when impacted by a bolt 80 shot from a crossbow 70.

FIGS. 6 and 6A illustrate an embodiment of a bolt stop target 10 incorporating as the quick release fastener one or more stretchable band/release clip combination 20 containing release clip portions 21 and 21 b comprising male/female portions of the clip. The combination can be hung from the stand by wrapping them around two rods 12 serving as a stand 11 which are pushed into the ground such as illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIGS. 3, 3A and 3B illustrate as the quick release fastener two separate spring clip fasteners 14. FIG. 3A illustrates as an embodiment spring clip 17 containing a rod notch 18 and spring 19. Two of these spring clips 17 can be used to hang a target 10 to two spaced apart rods 12 pushed into the ground as shown in FIG. 3. A common spring clip clothes pin is an example of such a clip. An alligator clip 24 incorporating a magnet 25 is illustrated in FIG. 3B is another embodiment of a usable spring clip. Two separate spring clips as shown in FIG. 3A can be used to attach a target, or example by simply folding one edge of the target material around the rod 12 and attaching the opposite edge of the target around a second rod spaced apart from the first rod, both of the rods pushed into the ground to from a stand 11. Two alligator clips 24 containing a magnet 25 can be clipped to opposite edges of bolt stop target near the top and attached to metal rods 12 used as a stand by pushing the rods into the ground as illustrated in FIG. 3. Alligator clips are a sprung metal clips with long serrated jaws. In FIG. 10 the spring clip contain at the end opposite the jaws a crimping portion which can be crimped to a cord such as shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 8 illustrates a target 10 provided with loops 23, such as made from parachute cords, secured on opposite sides of the target 10 near the top. The loops are used to hang the target 10 from pegs 16 secured to the rods 12 in a manner similar as described for the holes 22 taught for the embodiment shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 7 illustrates the use of magnets 26 embedded in the fabric of the target 10 near the top which are used to attach the target 10 to metal rods 12 which provide a stand 11 for hanging the target 10.

FIGS. 4 and 4A illustrate an embodiment of the method of de-cocking a crossbow using the target 10, quick release fastener and a stand 11 as described above. Anyone of the embodiments of the invention as shown and described herein, or equivalents can be used. Also, a low hanging tree branch could be used as a stand 11 and the target attached thereto using a spring clip 17 or the quick release fastener 200/201 shown in FIG. 10. In the method, a blunt tip bolt such as illustrated in FIG. 2 is loaded into a cocked crossbow 70 and fired at a target 10 which is releaseably attached to a stand 11 with a quick release fastener such as for example mounted on have pegs 16 extending out from the rods (FIG. 4A). The impact of the fired bolt releases the non-penetrable collapsible target 10 from the stand and the target eventually drops to the ground with the bolt 80. The archer may then recover the bolt, target and stand for use another time. FIG. 4A is intended to show a closer view of the time lapse view of the impact of a bolt removing the target 10 from the stand 11 and eventually stopping and lying on the ground. The archer may stand anywhere from about twenty to about five feet from the target when firing the blunt tipped bolt. The method is also useful using the other target, quick release fasteners and stands taught herein.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein a target 10 is releaseably attached to the stock 72 of a crossbow 70 using for example elastic bands 15. In another embodiment, the target shown and described in FIGS. 6 and 6A can be attached to the barrel 71 or tail stock 72 of a crossbow using the quick release fastener 20 shown and previously described hereinbefore. Or for example the target, quick release fastener holding the telescoping rods 100 shown in FIGS. 9-11 can be attached to the crossbow for transportation by wrapping the target around the barrel 71 or tail stock 72 and securing the target using the cord/clip combination 200/201 shown in FIG. 10. The target may also be folded or rolled up and carried in a crossbow having a compartment in the crossbow stock.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a blunt tip bolt that can be used to un-cock a crossbow. It can be carried into the field along with regular hunting bolts and used to replace a regular hunting bolt when un-cocking a crossbow. These bolts are commercially available.

FIG. 7 shows two magnets 26 embedded into the fabric of the target 10 near the top as an embodiment of a quick release fastener. The target can be releaseably attached to metal rods 12 which are pushed into the ground to form a stand 11. The magnets have sufficient strength to hold the target and still release from the rods when the target is impacted by a bold shot from a crossbow.

FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment of a telescoping rod 100 that may be employed to prepare a stand 11 for hanging a target 10. The rod comprises a telescoping rod member 100, a magnet 101 attached to one end and a sharp point 102 (for example a bullet point bolt tip) located at the opposite end for ease of pushing the rod into the ground. This embodiment includes a pocket clip 103 for ease of carrying the telescoping rod in a pocket or as illustrated in the embodiment of the invention disclosed in FIG. 10 for attaching to a target, also for ease of carrying a pair of rods along with the target

FIG. 10 illustrates an embodiment of the invention including a target 10 having attached to the top edge thereto a pair of cords 200 having attached to the ends opposite to the ends attached to the target, metal clips 201 such as for example an alligator clip. The cords can be made of for example from a cotton material, woven Nylon rope and the like. The cords can range from about one-eighth to about one-half inch in diameter. The cords can be attached to the target for example when sewing the seam when preparing the target from multiple layers of ballistic material or using other similar methods. The target also includes a pair of fabric strips 202 attached to the surface of the target for holding a pair of rods 12, such as a pair of telescoping rods 100 as illustrated in FIG. 9. The fabric strips 202 may be elastic.

FIG. 11 illustrates the target of FIG. 10 rolled up and secured by wrapping the pair of cords 200 around the rolled up target 10 and held in place by using the clips 201 attached to the end of the cords 200 by attaching the alligator clip 201 to the cords 200.

FIG. 12 illustrates two of the telescoping rods 100 shown in FIG. 9 and described herein pushed into the ground to make a stand to releaseably attach and hang a target such as illustrated in FIG. 10. The clips 201 are made of metal that is attracted to the magnets 101. Metal clips can also for example be clipped to rods 12 using the jaws or in the case of rods containing a magnet at the top end, merely being attracted to the magnets.

The stand 11 used to releaseably attach a target 10 of the invention can comprise two rods 12 as previously described. The rods can range in height for example from about 18 to about 36 inches. The rods 12 can be round, square or rectangular and may contain a peg 16 extending from the side near the top of the rods. The rods 12 may range in diameter from about one quarter inch to about one-half inch. They may be made of metal, hard wood such as a dowel rods, or plastic. The rods may be telescoping as illustrated in FIG. 9 so they can be collapsed for easier transport to the site where they are to be used. At the site the collapsed rods are pulled open and pushed into the ground for mounting a target 10. The rods 12 can be hinged at the top as shown in FIG. 8 as previously described here in before.

The size and shape of the target 10 is not critical the practice of the invention. For example, the shape may be a polygon, such as rectangular or square, triangular or oval such as a circle. Rectangular shapes, such as square, are preferred. Preferably the size ranges from about 8 inches square to about 14 inches square for ease of transporting and setting up in the field. Larger or smaller sizes are operable. The target is preferably made from a ballistic fabric including leather and the like. The material should preferably not be penetrable by a blunt tip bolt shot from a crossbow. Examples of suitable ballistic fabric materials used to make the targets are fabrics made from Keviar, Dyneema and Spectra brand fibers having high tensile strength that do not break easily which would permit penetration of a blunt tipped bolt fired from a crossbow. They can be cut with ordinary scissors. Kevlar brand fiber is composed of an aramid plastic material. Dyneema brand fibers are made from ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. Spectra brand fiber is made from polyethylene. The ballistic resistance of the target can be increased by layering sheets of ballistic fabric one on top of the other and sewing them together using for example upholstery thread. When sewing multiple layers together it is preferred that the center of the target remains unsewn and not restrained so that it remains flexible and absorbable of the kinetic energy of the blunt tip bolt. Thus, sewing around the perimeter of the target is preferred. Rotating the weave of the fabric improves the ballistic properties. The number of layers will depend on the specific type of fabric and should, however, provide a target that is flexible collapsible and non-penetrable to a blunt tip bolt shot from a crossbow. Leather can be used in combination with these fabrics or can be used alone. A typical target comprises no more than about 10 layers of such ballistic fabric so that it remains flexible to dissipate the kinetic energy of the fired bolt. An actual example of a target was prepared rising 8 layers of Rip Stop Kevlar brand ballistic fabric, cut square twelve inches on a side and se together around the perimeter of the target. It was tested by shooting a blunt tip bolt from a crossbow into the target suspended from a stand using a pair of rods pushed into the ground as a stand and using as a quick release fastener two spring clips 17 (spring clothes pin). The target easily released from the stand and the bolt was recovered undamaged. The bolt had not pierced the surface of the target. In another example the target and quick release fastener as shown in FIG. 10 and described here-in-before was made from the same materials as described in the first example. The stand comprised two telescoping rods as shown in FIG. 9 and were pushed into the ground as shown in FIG. 12. The telescoping rods contained 7 segments, were approximately 25.5 inches long when expanded to full length and 6.5 inches long when collapsed. Metal clips 201 were attached to the magnets by the magnetic force. The suspended target easily released from the stand when impacted by a traveling blunt tipped bold shot from a crossbow. Neither the crossbow nor the bolt were damaged.

The blunt tip bolt may be made from a standard bolt by removing the broad head tip or field tip. In one embodiment, the broad head or field tip is replaced with a rounded practice tip or with a small cap made of for example rubber or leather. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A portable flexible collapsible bolt stop target for catching and not damaging a bolt having a blunt point shot from a crossbow which can be stored on or in a crossbow comprising: a flexible fabric target article that can be releaseably hung from a stand secured to a ground surface with a quick release fastener, said fabric comprising a flexible high tensile strength ballistic non-penetrable material which prevents penetration by said blunt tipped bolt traveling through the air with high kinetic energy, said target when impacted by said blunt tipped bolt flying through the air with high kinetic energy the target is released from a stand and falls to the ground along with said bolt without damage to said bolt.
 2. The target of claim 1 wherein said target is configured to collapse and adsorb and dissipate a significant mount of the kinetic energy of said bolt.
 3. The target of claim 1 wherein said target is rectangular shaped.
 4. The target of claim 1 wherein said targets composed of multi layers of said non-penetrable ballistic material.
 5. The target of claim 1 wherein said target is composed of leather.
 6. The target of claim 1 wherein said target is composed of a fabric of aramid plastic material fiber.
 7. The target of claim 1 wherein said target defines a pair of spaced apart holes functioning as a quick release fastener.
 8. The target of claim 1 wherein including as quick release fastener a pair of spring clips.
 9. The target of claim 8 wherein said quick release fastener comprises a pair of spring clothes pens.
 10. The target of claim 1 including in addition a stand comprised of a pair of rods.
 11. The target of claim 10 wherein said rods comprise telescopic rods.
 12. The target of claim 11 wherein magnets are attached to the top end of said telescopic rods.
 13. The target of claim 1 wherein said target includes a pair of magnets embedded in said fabric serving as said quick release fastener.
 14. The target of claim 1 wherein said target includes as a quick release fastener a pair of cords one end attached to the top portion of said target material and spring clips attached to the other end said pair of cords.
 15. The target of claim 14 wherein said spring clips are alligator clips.
 16. The target of claim 1 wherein said target includes as quick release fastener a pair of loops attached to the top portion of said target material.
 17. A method of de-cocking a crossbow without damaging it comprising: loading a cocked crossbow with a blunt tipped bolt, providing a portable collapsible breakaway target comprising a flexible fabric target article that can be releaseably hung from a stand secured to a ground surface with a quick release fastener, said fabric comprising a flexible high tensile strength ballistic non-penetrable material which prevents penetration by said blunt tipped bolt traveling through the air with high kinetic energy, said target when impacted by said blunt tipped bolt flying through the air with high kinetic energy the target is released from a stand and falls to the ground along with said bolt without damage to said bolt, and firing the bolt into said target whereby the target absorbs the kinetic energy of said bolt and falls to the ground with said bolt thereby preventing damage to the bolt and to the crossbow.
 18. A crossbow/bolt collapsible breakaway target combination comprising: a crossbow having a flexible collapsible target of claim 1 releaseably attached thereto.
 19. A portable blunt tip bolt stop bolt saving kit comprising: a target comprising a flexible fabric target article that can be releaseably hung from a stand secured to a ground surface with a quick release fastener, said fabric comprising a flexible high tensile strength ballistic non-penetrable material which prevents penetration by said blunt tipped bolt traveling through the air with high kinetic energy, said target when impacted by a blunt tipped bolt flying through the air with high kinetic energy the target is released from a stand and fails to the ground along with said bolt without damage to said bolt, a pair of rods to provide a stand to releaseably hang said target, and a quick release fastener to releaseably attach said target to said stand.
 20. The kit of claim 19 wherein said quick release fastener comprises a pair of spring clips.
 21. The kit of claim 19 wherein said quick release fastener comprises a pair of spring clothes pens.
 22. The kit of claim 19 wherein said rods comprise telescopic rods.
 23. The kit of claim 22 wherein magnets are attached to the top end of said telescopic rods.
 24. The kit of claim 19 wherein said target is rectangular shaped.
 25. The kit of claim 19 wherein said target comprises multi layers of said non-penetrable ballistic material.
 26. The kit of claim 19 wherein said target is composed of leather.
 27. The kit of claim 14 wherein said target comprises a fabric of aramid plastic material fiber.
 28. The kit of claim 19 wherein a said target defines a pair of spaced apart holes functioning as a quick release fastener.
 29. The kit of claim 19 wherein said target includes a pair quick release fastener comprise a pair of magnets embedded in said fabric.
 30. The kit of claim 19 wherein said target includes as a quick release fastener a pair of cords one end attached to attached to the top portion of said target material and spring clips attached to the other ends of said pair of cords.
 31. The kit of claim 30 wherein said spring clips are alligator clips.
 32. The kit of claim 19 wherein said target includes as quick release fastener a pair of loops attached to the top portion of said target material. 